Sleep and Lack Of

There have been endless studies on what sleep deprivation does to the body, mind and spirit – none of it good. Most new moms (and dads) quickly learn to treasure sleep until a routine is put into place. Medical professionals, pilots, third shift workers, and so on attest to the fact that mistakes are made and emotions run high when they don’t receive a healthy dose of the Z’s. One business owner told me that in school he was taught that sleep was wasted time, lost money and for weak spirits. I have taken numerous classes by psychologists, psychiatrists and physicians who all say that sleep is the most important piece of leading a healthy life, it is the fuel that keeps our systems running. So why do so many of us consider sleep optional for leading a happy and healthy life?

There are several reasons why we don’t sleep. Some may be programmed, like the business owner mentioned, that sleep is wasted, while others may have health issues and/or pain that causes sleep to be difficult. I believe that a huge factor for sleep deprivation centers around technology and all of the information at our finger tips that our minds have forgotten (or are on a delay) as to how to shut itself off.

A few years back I took a seminar with a friend that was centered around stress and the brain. One of the topics that was covered was sleep and lack of. The physician had us sit for 15 minutes, legs uncrossed, with yoga fingers (thumb/index finger/and middle finger gently pressed together) and simply deep breathing. “Don’t even bother going to your happy place,” he said, “Just follow your breathing.” After what felt like 15 minutes of pure heaven, he explained that 15 minutes of deep breathing equated to 8 hours of sleep. What?!! Yep, he said that although it wasn’t a replacement for sleep, but it helped the body and brain untangle the mess of the day (week, month….) and allow clarity to pour through. He was much more technical when describing the neurons and blood flow, but I was following in layman’s terms, and in layman’s terms he was saying to skip hours of meditation where most of the time the mind wanders to a grocery list or work to do’s. 15 minutes, well that I could do.

From a metaphysical standpoint, sleep and meditation is important to listening to the soul (through dreams), contacting our Guides and receiving visits from our loved ones on the Other Side. I am asked at least ten times a week by clients why they never dream, or why they don’t have visits from their relatives who have passed. The answer is typically the same – you have to sleep, and sleep well, in order to receive those benefits. And most of the time I am met by agreement that their sleep is lacking quantity and quality.

The past few weeks have been stressful for me, and my health has suffered because of it, as has my sleep. Midnight has been my bedtime and 5:30 a.m. my wake time, with the time between lacking the proper sleep patterns. Waking up with the thought that I cannot wait to go to bed has been the norm, and that is neither healthy nor positive. And with each day I was like an egg that was slowly cracking. Today I cracked open completely, the yoke being tears of plenty. Not over anything particular, just everything. The weeds grew between the plants. Cry. My son is leaving for camp on Monday. Cry. The kitten was sleeping. Cry. Chuck was folding towels. Cry. Crystal Readings needs to be finished. Cry. I’m tired. Cry. The refrigerator didn’t feel cold. Cry. My dad’s television was on so loud. Cry. The neighbor’s dog wouldn’t stop barking. Cry. Sounds insane, right? Don’t appease me, I know it sounds insane. It was like I was having an out of body experience and wondering who let the crazy girl out of the institution. After work and running errands, the family went out to eat where I almost fell asleep as the boys watched Detroit Tiger Baseball on the restaurant’s big screen (it was so boring that would have been an excusable reason to cry). When we got home, I simply left my purse, with my phone in it, on the table and went to rest. Meditate. I heard my Spirit Guide (Marv) tell me to meditate. So I laid down, took some deep breathes and let myself follow my breathing. As I meditated I hard my Guide begin to sing the song “Smile”, originally sung by Charlie Chaplin. And as he sang, I cried, but it was a refreshing cry, not my insanity cry, and he made me smile.

Sleep deprivation does crazy things. It ruins marriage. It ruins families. It ruins jobs. It ruins health. It kills people – physically and mentally. If you are having problems sleeping, see your doctor. Don’t try to fix it on your own with sleeping medications or alcohol. Try the 15 minute meditation technique and putting your cell phone out of your bedroom, along with any other piece of technology (TV, Laptop, IPad, etc) and know that crying does sometimes help hit the reset button to your system, but then make sure you smile.

Kristy Robinett is a Psychic Medium and Author of Ghosts of Southeast Michigan, Messenger Between Worlds, and Michigan’s Haunted Legends and Lore and Higher Intuitions Oracle deck both due out in late 2012.

Kristy Robinett’s involvement with the paranormal began at the age of 3 when she began playing and communicating with spirits, labeled imaginary friends by her parents, which was totally unacceptable.

Kristy specializes in bringing humor to what most fear and inspires all ages to ignite the light within them so that the fire of inspiration continues on. It’s Kristy’s down to earth style, honesty, sense of humor and warmth that makes her a sought out coach and speaker.